Car Rental - Keep Checking!!!

This may be common knowledge but it wasn't for me. The first time was a family trip to Scottsdale - four adults and two 3 year olds. Checked the big three and rented a Tahoe - and the cost for the week was almost $900 on all three. Ended up renting from National.

A few days before the trip, decided to check again and snagged the same car, from the same rental company, for $350!

Now we're headed to Florida - PBI. Same deal. Rented about 4-5 weeks ago and got a Ford Fusion from National for $380. Checked a few days ago and got the same car for $190 for the week. And looked yesterday and it was down to $160! Pretty easy - just reserve again and cancel the original one.

This may be common knowledge but it wasn't for me. The first time was a family trip to Scottsdale - four adults and two 3 year olds. Checked the big three and rented a Tahoe - and the cost for the week was almost $900 on all three. Ended up renting from National.

A few days before the trip, decided to check again and snagged the same car, from the same rental company, for $350!

Now we're headed to Florida - PBI. Same deal. Rented about 4-5 weeks ago and got a Ford Fusion from National for $380. Checked a few days ago and got the same car for $190 for the week. And looked yesterday and it was down to $160! Pretty easy - just reserve again and cancel the original one.

Hmmm - maybe I should check again today!

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Yes, I did the same for my current rental from MIA, checking multiple times in the last 2-3 days before renting. I also used http://www.carrentalsavers.com/index.html for their coupon info and a discount from USAir and got a mid-size car for $89 for six days. Most of that cost is the taxes and fees that can't be eliminated.

This may be common knowledge but it wasn't for me. The first time was a family trip to Scottsdale - four adults and two 3 year olds. Checked the big three and rented a Tahoe - and the cost for the week was almost $900 on all three. Ended up renting from National.

A few days before the trip, decided to check again and snagged the same car, from the same rental company, for $350!

Now we're headed to Florida - PBI. Same deal. Rented about 4-5 weeks ago and got a Ford Fusion from National for $380. Checked a few days ago and got the same car for $190 for the week. And looked yesterday and it was down to $160! Pretty easy - just reserve again and cancel the original one.

Hmmm - maybe I should check again today!

Click to expand...

Good point. If price goes up you are covered, if it goes down you cancel / rebook and pocket a few $$.

While both of these companies have their places, I have various discount code attached to my accounts and pretty much always beat them - often by quite a bit. The rate thru National through CarRentalSavers is $70 more than I'm paying! But if someone had no codes at all (for example, AAA), sounds like a good idea.

I always use National. As soon as I know I'm traveling, I reserve a car. A few days before I travel, I check again. Many times I've gotten a considerably lower rate, sometimes not. So I get the best rate either way. I do the same thing with hotel reservations. I've gotten some better last-minute hotel rates, but not as often as on the car rental.

I haven't used Autoslash because it hasn't worked for me; but, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
When I book anything, I already know what I am willing to pay. Booking 6 weeks out, I'm just trying to assure that I have a car, in case there is going to be a convention in town. Checking in the last week, every now and then I find the price will drop a significant amount; and I will rebook. I find this is more likely to happen at a "tourist" destination.
It happens, but rarely, that marketforces will push the price of a Premium below the price of a midsize. If I am on vacation I may take advantage of that and rebook.
But if the price is too high, I just consider that a reality check to myself to consider doing something else. When my upcoming Springbreak proved to be just too pricey; I almost opted for a staycation. Then it came to me that I live close enough to Florida that I could chop off a few nights, lop off the airfare, upgrade the rental car, and make it a long weekend. Works for me.

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